Last year 1,000 pounds of expired and unused medications were disposed of safely
TAMPA, Fla. (Oct 19, 2020) – The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) is teaming up with law enforcement agencies and the Hillsborough County Anti-Drug Alliance in the Tampa Bay area on Saturday, October 24, 2020, for Prescription Drug Take-Back Day.
National Prescription Drug Take-Back Day (10 a.m. – 2 p.m.) allows people to clean out their medicine cabinets and dispose of any unused or expired prescription drugs safely and anonymously to prevent drug addiction and overdose deaths.
It’s crucial to be aware of the dangers of keeping these old pills, particularly narcotic painkillers such as OxyContin, Percocet and Vicodin. Prescription drug abuse is use of a medication without a prescription, in a way other than as prescribed or for the experience or feelings elicited. According to several national surveys, prescription medications, like those used to treat pain, attention deficit disorders and anxiety, are being abused at a rate second only to marijuana among illicit drug users. Consequences of this abuse have been steadily worsening, reflected in increased treatment admissions, emergency room visits and overdose deaths.
The 2019 National Survey on Drug Use and Health found that nearly 57.2 million Americans, ages 12 or older, had abused or misused prescription drugs in the past year. That number has jumped from the 19 million reported in the 2016 survey.
New this year, residents can also pick-up prescription lockboxes and Deterra drug disposal baggies at the drop-off locations for their own use at home. These items are being distributed for free, upon request, thanks to HCADA partnerships. The combination lockboxes will keep any medications you need to have at home safe from theft or abuse. The drug disposal baggies will allow you to dispose of any prescription drugs or other medicines without polluting the water or ground through unsafe disposal methods like tossing them in the garbage or flushing them down the toilet.
There are four collection sites throughout the Tampa Bay area where residents can drop off prescription drugs from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. and be sure their unused or expired medications will be disposed of safely:
2 Locations Sponsored by Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office
• Brandon Regional Hospital, 425 S. Parsons Ave., Brandon FL 33511 (across the street from the hospital)
• Walmart, 7011 W. Waters Ave., Tampa, FL 33634
2 Locations Sponsored by Tampa Police Department
• Walmart, 1505 N Dale Mabry Hwy., Tampa, FL 33607
• CVS, 3102 W. Gandy Blvd., Tampa, FL 33611
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About Hillsborough County Anti-Drug Alliance:
Hillsborough County Anti-Drug Alliance (HCADA) has been in existence, active in the community and supportive of law enforcement, the court system, prevention agencies, and substance abuse treatment providers since its inception in 1989. In 2003, HCADA restructured as a 501(c) (3) to apply for grant funding. Subsequently, HCADA expanded its community based alcohol, tobacco and substance abuse education and prevention activities. It participates as well in the development of related planning strategies, statewide in scope, for the betterment of the Hillsborough County community. HCADA offers open membership and participation to all interested individuals and continues to provide a public forum for sharing information and new ideas. For more information about HCADA, visit www.hcada.com.